Movable toy



y 1934- A. L. PETRONE 1,959,641

MOVABLE TOY Filed June 22, 1933 IN VENTOR.

AZ/fajj, @fima BY @425 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in toys and is directed more particularly to the provision of a toy having novel means whereby certain elements thereof are automatically moved as the toy is moved along the floor or the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a toy which has certain elements such as cymbals, which are moved towards and away from one another, as certain other elements are moved. As a further object, the toy is so constructed that it is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and easy and efficient in operation.

The novel features of the invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the toy of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the toy shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the invention will be more fully described.

At 2 in Fig. 1, is a figure supporting member supported in some manner as by a leg member or members 4 extending upwardly from a base member 6. In the preferred form of the invention, and as shown in Fig. 1, the member 2 has a pair of leg members 4 attached thereto at its opposite sides.

Associated with the base 6 are front and rear axles 8 and 10, respectively, which are rotatable and these carry wheels 12 on their opposite ends which support the base. By means of the wheels, the base 6 may be rolled along a surface, such as a floor or table.

A pair of relatively vertical shafts 14 are associated with the support 2 at opposite sides thereof. Their upper ends are rotatable in bearings 16 on the support and their lower ends are journalled in suitable holes in the base. Extending forwardly from the upper ends of the shafts 14 are arm members 18.

These arm members 18 consist of arm portions 19 which are angularly disposed relative to the shafts 14 and forward supporting members 24. The supporting members 24 are adapted to carry discs 26, such as cymbals or the like.

Extending from the lower ends of the shafts 14 are crank arms 15 which are offset as shown in Fig. 2, while the forward axle 8 has a crank or offset portion 9 intermediate its ends.

Connecting rod means consist of a member bent intermediate its ends to provide a loop 31 which is journalled on the crank 9 and diverging connecting rods 30. The rods 30 are pivotally connected at 20 to the outer ends of the crank arms 15. In this way, rotative movements of the axle 8 will move the diverging connecting links 30 backwards and forwards. The movement of the connecting rod means will actuate the crank arms 15 towards and away from one another to oscillate the shafts 14. Thus the arm members 18 are moved towards and away from one another and the discs 26 are brought into and out of contact with one another.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the shafts 14, the arms 15 and 18 and the connecting rod means are made of wire. In this way, resiliency and smoothness of operation is attained at low cost. The loop 31 may thus serve to make the connecting rod means spring-like so that the diverging links 30 may more readily move the arms 15 towards and away from one another.

The figure support 2 is preferably adapted so that it will support a toy image such as a clown or the like. Suitable clothing may surround the support 2, leg members 4 and shafts 14 and the arms 18 may serve as the arms of the image. In this way, as the base is rolled along a surface on its wheels, the arms of the figure are moved so that the cymbals are crashed together.

The base 2 and wheels 4 may be made of wood or some similarly inexpensive material. The discs 26 are preferably metal so that a cymbal effect is created. It is desired to point out, however, that the invention is directed to the provision of means whereby arm members are caused to move towards and away from one another. It is not essential that elements be carried by the arms or that such elements be actually brought into contact.

The support 2 may carry on its upper end a figure such as the head of a doll or the like. With clothing or some similar covering draped around some .of the elements of the device, and the connecting rod means disposed under the base, the novel mechanism of the toy may be substantially hidden from view. The result is an attractive toy which has fascinating and efiicient movement and is simple and economical to manufacture.

While I have described my apparatus in great detail and with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such detail or embodiment since many changes or modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broader aspects.

Hence, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A toy of the class described comprising in combination, a base, forward and rear axles rotatable in said base for supporting the same, wheels on the opposite ends of said axles for supporting said axles, one of said axles being provided with a crank intermediate its opposite ends, a support for a figure extending upwardly from said base, vertical shaft members at opposite sides of said support having their lower ends journalled in said base and their upper ends journalled in bearings associated with said support, arm members extending from the upper ends of said shafts at substantially right angles thereto, crank arms extending from the lower ends of said shaft at substantially right angles thereto and connecting rod means pivotally connecting said crank arms to said crank of the axle, the said connecting rod means including a member bent intermediate its ends to form a loop journalled on said crank and diverging connecting members extending from said loop with their extremities pivotally connected to the outer ends of said crank arms, all adapted and arranged whereby rotation of said wheels cause said connecting members to oscillate and rotate said shafts and move said arm members towards and away from one another.

2. A toy of the class described comprising in combination a base, forward and rear axles rotatable in said base for supporting the same, wheels on the opposite ends of said axles for supporting said axles, one of said axles being provided with a crank intermediate its opposite ends, a support for a figure extending upwardly from said base, shaft members bent to form upper and lower arm portions extending substantially horizontally from upper and lower ends of main body portions extending substantially vertically at opposite sides of said support, the said body portions of said shafts being journalled for rotation in said base and in bearings associated with said support, and connecting rod means pivotally connecting said lower arm portions and said crank, the said connecting rod means including a member bent intermediate its ends to form a loop journalled on said crank and diverging connecting members extending from said loop with their extremities pivotally connected to the outer ends of said lower arm portions, all adapted and arranged whereby rotation of said wheels cause said connecting members to oscillate and rotate said shafts to move said arm portions towards and away from one another.

ALFRED L. PETRONE. 

